1976 Maine Black Bears football team

The 1976 Maine Black Bears football team was an American football team that represented the University of Maine as a member of the Yankee Conference during the 1976 NCAA Division II football season. In its first season under head coach Jack Bicknell, the team compiled a 6–5 record (2–3 against conference opponents) and finished in a four-way tie for last place in the Yankee Conference. Scott E. Shulman, Jack Leggett, and Gerard Tautkus were the team captains.^[1]

1976 Maine Black Bears football
Conference	Yankee Conference
Record	6–5 (2–3 Yankee)
Head coach	Jack Bicknell (1st season)
Captain	Scott E. Shulman, Jack Leggett, Gerard Tautkus
Home stadium	Alumni Field
Seasons ← 1975 1977 →

1976 Yankee Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. T–8 New Hampshire $^	4	–	1	–	0			8	–	3	–	0
UMass	3	–	2	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Maine	2	–	3	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Rhode Island	2	–	3	–	0			3	–	5	–	0
Boston University	2	–	3	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Connecticut	2	–	3	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from Associated Press poll

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 11	Saint Mary's (NS)*	Alumni Field Orono, ME	W 49–14	4,800
September 18	UMass	Alumni Field Orono, ME	L 3–24	7,100
September 25	Central Connecticut State*	Alumni Field Orono, ME	W 17–3	5,800
October 2	Rhode Island	Alumni Field Orono, ME	L 9–14	7,500
October 9	at New Hampshire	Cowell Stadium Durham, NH	W 10–0	8,200–8,250	[2]
October 16	at Connecticut	Memorial Stadium Storrs, CT	W 24–13	8,151–8,200	[3]
October 23	Lehigh*	Alumni Field Orono, ME	L 0–24	7,600	[4]
October 30	at Southern Connecticut*	New Haven, CT	W 24–14	5,600	[5]
November 6	Northeastern*	Alumni Field Orono, ME	W 21–20	4,000
November 13	at Boston University*	Nickerson Field Boston, MA	L 14–28	2,656–2,700	[6]
November 20	at No. 4 Delaware*	Delaware Stadium Newark, DE	L 0–36	14,100–14,136	[7]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[8]

References

1. "2019 Maine Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Maine. 2019. p. 87. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
2. "Final 1976 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
3. "Final 1976 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
4. Warner, Bill (October 25, 1976). "Owls Next UMO Foe After Lehigh Loss". Bangor Daily News. Bangor, Maine. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Maine cuts down Southern Conn. behind DiPietro's rushing, 24-14". The Boston Globe. October 31, 1976.
6. "Final 1976 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
7. Simmons, Bill (November 21, 1976). "Delaware Sinks Maine, 36-0, Might Get Playoff Offer Today". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pa. p. 3E – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Final 1976 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 26, 2022.